Adams’ seven years at OKC over after Pelicans trade confirmed
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WELLINGTON: New Zealander Steven Adams’ move within the NBA has been confirmed with his trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the New Orlean Pelicans.
Financial details were not given but the twoyear extension is reported to be worth $US50 million ($NZ71.5 million).
He also picks up a $US3 million trade bonus.
The deals runs through the 202223 season and is fully guaranteed.
The 2.11m centre has played his entire sevenyear NBA career at OKC, which has decided to unload the majority of its squad.
He will link up at the Pelicans with power forward Zion
Williamson, the No 1 draft pick last year.
The Pelicans also have Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball in their lineup.
The Pelicans have made the playoffs just once in the past five years.
Adams appeared in 530 career regularseason games with the Thunder, holding career averages of 9.8 points on .589 shooting, 7.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.0 blocks.
The Rotoruaborn Adams appeared in 63 games in 201920, averaging 10.9 points on .592 shooting, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks.
Selected 12th overall from the University of Pittsburgh in the 2013 NBA draft, Adams ranks fifth alltime in OKCSeattle franchise history in blocks (531) and first in fieldgoal percentage.
Adams was a part of a fourteam trade involving the New Orleans Pelicans, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Pelicans acquired Adams (via Oklahoma City) and Eric Bledsoe (via Milwaukee), as well as two future firstround draft picks from Milwaukee and the right to swap two additional firstround picks with the Bucks. In exchange, Milwaukee has acquired Jrue Holiday and the draft rights to Sam Merrill, the 60th pick in the 2020 NBA draft (via New Orleans); Denver has acquired the draft rights to RJ Hampton, the 24th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft (via Milwaukee); and Oklahoma City has acquired a future firstround draft pick (via Denver), George Hill (via Milwaukee), Zylan Cheatham, Josh Gray, Darius Miller and Kenrich Williams (via New Orleans) as well as two secondround draft picks from the Pelicans (2023 via Washington, 2024 via Charlotte).
‘‘Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe are not only fiercely competitive and driven to succeed at the highest levels, they are proven winners with a teamfirst mentality,’’ Pelicans executive David Griffin said.
‘‘As we continue to build toward the sustainable success our ownership demands and our fans so richly deserve, we are grateful to be able to do so with such highquality teammates and human beings.’’